In Summary
Up until very recently, any tweaks to individual mix elements had to happen in the original DAW project or Session. With a new crop of tools that allow useful balance changes to be made with pre-mixed audio, here we share a way to use individual track processing as well.
Going Deeper
Traditionally, the options for changing the balance or other qualities in pre-mixed audio had their limits. That said, there were plenty of studios using techniques such as EQ to successfully bring parts forward or push them back whenever track-freeing tape bounces needed help during mixdown. Fundamentally though, making meaningful changes to the mix meant making them in the mix.
Further downstream, mastering engineers could use similar techniques to add emphasis or de-emphasis on things like ‘hot’ fundamental notes in the bass, or finding a vocal’s unique brilliance band with other elements less affected. Despite these techniques, using a processor on an individual track or mix stem remained simply not possible.
De-Mixers - Not Just A Set Of Faders
Many of the new crop of de-mixing audio plugins have stem faders for groups of instruments to allow re-balancing. With their GUIs looking a lot like a stripped-back DAW mixer, it’s no surprise that many also have the familiar Mute and Solo buttons too. While Mute makes mix minuses without the vocal possible for example, the Solo button is so much more than a nod to the DAW mixer.
In the video we use Acon Digital’s Remix solo buttons to get parts out on their own for processing in a few simple moves:
Stem channels are solo’d where needed. Bounces are made, and the audio re-imported onto its own track in the DAW.
Any remaining un-bounced stem channels are then solo’d so that they play into the mix alongside the newly imported audio bounces.
Audio plugins and/or level changes can be used in the DAW mixer as needed.
In our example we use some low-mid cut on a drum stem to get the drums ‘either side’ of the double bass on the bass’ peakiest notes. On guitar stem, we simply use the DAW fader as a more convenient level fader on a control surface. On vocals we take the opportunity to add some reverb.
Re-Writing History?
While no-one is pretending that access to the mix itself isn’t preferable, there are some undoubted benefits to being able to re-process stems and tracks this way. Using the tech, it becomes clear that with a little experimentation with Remix’s Sensitivity controls, usable separation can make processing an option.
In our recent article, we speculated that the quality of the separation will only get better with time, making the possibility of a tool like Remix featuring more faders and buttons still. Until then, engineers can do remarkable things in the present for re-versioning or maybe those tweaks that should have happened in the past…
A Word About This Article
As the Experts team considered how we could better help the community we thought that some of you are time poor and don’t have the time to read a long article or a watch a long video. In 2023 we are going to be trying out articles that have the fast takeaway right at the start and then an opportunity to go deeper if you wish. Let us know if you like this idea in the comments.